VG residents join consultative group
It was on the occasion of the Commissioner of Police (CoP) David Morris, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCoP) Mr Alwyn James and Public Relations Officer of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) Ms Diane Drayton engaging residents of North Sound and Valley on Wednesday April 2, 2014. They were accompanied by several other key officers of the RVIPF.
Speaking of the importance of having a consultative group in the various communities across the Territory Ms Drayton told residents at both locations that there are functioning groups in Tortola which are working together in partnership.
We work alongside them and we would be working alongside you with your neighbourhood police officer to try to do things that are not necessarily policing issues... there may be need for speed bumps, there may be need for more lighting in certain areas,” she noted.
She made it clear that those are not matters that fall under the responsibility of the police but they would be assisting in the process of lobbying with the relevant Ministry and departments. “So often we get letters or requests to us about improving lighting because there are certain individuals hanging around certain corners,” said Ms Drayton.
“There is only so much we can do but together we can do more,” she added. This was something that the residents of Virgin Gorda, especially those of the Hispanic community, found favour with and jumped at the first opportunity given to them to form their group.
The issue of noise nuisance was one of the key issues the group has identified that needs to be addressed. At the meeting bar owners sought clarifications as to the procedures that police officers are required to follow when instructing a bar to close especially following complaints of noise.
One resident told the team that police officers in the Virgin Gorda Community are guilty not doing a good job in their approach to bar operators in their quest to have them either lower, turn off their music or even to close the bar. “Their approach not good, not good, very bad,” one bar owner painstakingly complained.
In the audience in the North Sound area were only two volunteers as the turnout fell short of expectation with less than ten residents. Nonetheless the two had committed to assisting their Neighbourhood Community Police Officer in getting other residents to join the initiative.
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